Shopping in Meridian

At three locations throughout Mississippi, Humidor & Havana Cigars' display cases brim over with premium hand-rolled cigars from esteemed manufacturers. Humidors, carrying cases, and maintenance products facilitate quality puffs from Perdomo, Excalibar, and Hoyo de Monterrey cigars, while the Humidor Cigar Club invites patrons into a filtered smoking room, equipped with private humidified lockers to stock their smoldering indulgences. Five LCD flat screens beam down upon the lounge's oversize ottomans and pool tables, and complimentary Internet access allows patrons to shop online for bulk boxes of Michael Bolton wigs.

At Shugah On The Rez, colorful clothing, snazzy accessories, and imported and handmade jewelry combine to create stunning, one-of-a-kind outfits. The vast and ever-changing array of blouses, dresses, hats, and handbags complements all styles and looks, from the bright, summery, flowing silhouette of a young debutante to the glistening spacesuit of an astronaut. Guests wander past the shop’s charming exposed-brick walls and elegantly antique alcoves, picking out shimmering flair, such as chunky or delicate jewelry pieces studded with notes of topaz, precious metal, and turquoise.

Inside the brightly-lit confines of Fat Cat Art Cafe, shelves brim with bare-bisque pieces in the form of plates, mugs, and bowls. Visitors wield non-toxic, lead-free glazes and paints, embellishing items with designs such as flowers, abstract squiggles, or a squirrel's handprint before accommodating staff members fire the pieces, readying them for everyday use. Not just a paint-your-own pottery studio, Fat Cat Art Cafe offers specialty sessions such as Clay Day, where participants learn to make their own pottery pieces, and summer camps, where campers delve into daylong or weeklong projects such as creating a mosaic plaque, building flower pots out of clay coils, and making clay jars to store one’s nosehairs.

Apple Annie’s bright, spring-green walls accentuate pristine white shelves lined with candles, gourmet foods, jewelry, and gifts. Shortbread lemon straws($1.95–$21.95) infused with tart flavor come dusted in powdered sugar to track the fingerprints of pilfering refrigerator repairmen, while hot-pepper raspberry preserves strike the perfect balance between spicy and sweet ($8.95). Candles ($10–$30) in numerous sizes and scents cast a rustic light in homes and a modern aesthetic in dank caves. Apple Annie’s line of Waxing Poetic jewelry drapes delicate charms across skin real estate with unique and intricate necklaces ($33.95+). Tote morning java in an insulated travel mug in silver or black with pale pink accents and personalized with elegantly lettered initials ($16.95). Apple Annie’s also spruces up presents with free gift-wrapping.

The craftsmen at both Image Gallery Frame Shops pour more than 20 years of experience into each piece as they crown artwork, family photos, and precious mementos with traditional and eco-friendly mouldings. They combine these frames—many of which are harvested from managed and sustainable forests—with acid-free archival mats and conservation-quality glass to ensure memories withstand the test of time. Upon request, they can also use nonreflective museum glass to keep portraits from being startled by their own reflections.

In addition to custom framing, artisans stretch canvases, display three-dimensional objects in shadow boxes, and repair broken frames. When they aren't working in the shop, framers travel to customers' homes to assist with design needs and custom mirrors. For those with bare walls, an online gallery provides access to more than 3,300 images, which can be printed on paper or canvas and shipped for free to either shop for framing.

Alyssa Farmer opened Lace Bridal Boutique in August 2011 to help brides-to-be envision their big day with designer dresses and gorgeous accessories. Relying on an attention to detail, Alyssa and her consultants give soonlyweds one-on-one attention as they search for the perfect feather fascinators, rhinestone earrings, and veils. Their expert eyes rove over guests as they don sample dresses from designers such as Mikaella and Paloma Blanca. The shop's chandelier light casts a lambent glow that glints off the gowns and glittering accessories and illuminates chocolate-colored walls and pristine white trim.

Alyssa also curates a bedazzled selection of special occasion dresses—including looks from MacDuggal, Tony Bowls, and Sherri Hill—which wrap physiques in perfect style for prom, homecoming, or a date with a candelabra.